Agent based instruction system and method

• US 5,727,950 A
• Filed: 05/22/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Convergys Customer Management Group Incorporated (Convergys Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NetSage Corp (Convergys Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, deceased, Donald A., Lukas, George, Lukas, Andrew V., Padwa, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,422
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method for interactive, adaptive, and individualized computer-assisted instruction. This invention includes an agent for each student which adapts to its student and provides individualized guidance to the student and controls to the augmented computer-assisted instructional materials. The instructional materials of this invention are augmented to communicate the student'"'"'s performance and the material'"'"'s pedagogical characteristics to the agent and to receive control from the agent. Preferably, the content of the communication between the agent and the materials conforms to specified interface standards so that the agent acts independently of the content of the particular materials. Also preferably, the agent can project using various I/O modalities integrated, engaging, life-like display persona(e) appropriate to the preferences of its student and appear as a virtual tutor to the student. Finally, preferably this invention is implemented on computers interconnected by a network so that instruction can be delivered to geographically distributed students from geographically distributed servers. An important application of this invention is delivering interactive, adaptive, and individualized homework to students in their homes and other locations.

Claims

1. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions;

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

(e) controlling said one or more materials, said controlling responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions, and wherein said one or more instructional materials are responsive to said controlling;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student, and said interactive instruction presented by said system is individualized to said student.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring pedagogic characteristics of said interactive instruction of said student by said one or more materials, and said step of controlling further comprises controlling said one or more materials in order to present interactive instruction with said pedagogic characteristics.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said pedagogic characteristics are selected from the group comprising time pacing of interactive instruction, new concept seeding rate, density of examples, and discrimination difficulty.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring according to an instructional context and an instructional format adopted by each of said one or more materials.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising before said step of controlling and said step of outputting a further step of generating at least one action responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions, and wherein said step of controlling is responsive to said generated action(s) and wherein said step of outputting is responsive to said generated action(s).

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said of generating step generates action(s) according to one or more tables of rules.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said of generating step generates action(s) according to one or more methods selected from the group of expert systems, neural networks, Bayesian belief networks, and statistical pattern recognition.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising prior to said step of outputting a step of inputting at least one request of said student for guidance in said interactive instruction, and wherein said output information is further responsive to said input requests.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said computer accessed by said student is one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network, and wherein said student can access any of said plurality of computers for an instructional session.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said one or more materials is a plurality of materials.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said one or more students is a plurality of students.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring pedagogic information describing the pedagogic characteristics of said student in a manner independent of the subject matters of said one or more materials.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring progress and performance information describing the progress and performance of said student in said interactive instruction presented by each of said one or more materials.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of storing further comprises storing said information responsive to said monitoring in one of one or more student data objects, each student data object of said one or more student data objects being uniquely associated with exactly one student of said one or more students.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing a method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring pedagogic information describing the pedagogic characteristics of said student, wherein said selected display behavior comprises one or more personae, and wherein said selected visual display is further responsive to said pedagogic information;

whereby said one or more personae present a lifelike appearance individualized to said student'"'"'s cognitive style.

17. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

wherein said output information further comprises an utterance, and wherein the step of outputting further comprises a step of selecting said utterance from one or more candidate utterances, and a further step of outputting said utterance as text or speech;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said step of selecting further comprises selecting said one or more candidate utterance from one or more tables of utterances.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said one or more table of utterances comprise at least 1,000 utterances.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said one or more candidate utterances comprises at least 10 utterances.

21. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

wherein said responsive output information further comprises a display behavior, and wherein the step of outputting further comprises a step of selecting said display behavior from one or more candidate display behaviors, and a further step of outputting said display behavior;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said step of selecting further comprises selecting one or more candidate display behaviors from one or more tables of display behaviors.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein said one or more tables of display behaviors comprise at least 1,000 display behaviors.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein said one or more candidate display behaviors comprises at least 10 display behaviors.

25. The method according to claim 21 wherein said step of outputting said selected display behavior comprises outputting one or more modalities selected from the group consisting of text, voice, audio, animation, video, and preformatted animated sequences.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein said selected display behavior comprises one or more persona.

27. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

wherein said one or more materials further comprise a material engine and one or more materials data, and wherein said step of presenting interactive instruction by executing one or more materials further comprises executing said materials engine which references said one or more materials data;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said materials data further comprise notations, and wherein said step of monitoring further comprises said materials engine referencing said notations in order to generate monitoring information.

29. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of one or more students over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to one of said students by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions;

(d) determining an affect responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions; and

(e) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said affect, to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session, and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions, said output information comprising a visual display;

whereby said visual display is responsive to said affect and to said interactive instruction in a life-like manner.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein said step of monitoring further comprises monitoring pedagogic characteristics of said student, and wherein the step of determining an affect determines an affect further responsive to said pedagogic characteristics;

whereby said visual display is responsive in a life-like manner individualized to said student'"'"'s cognitive style.

31. The method according to claim 29 wherein said output information further comprises an utterance, and wherein the step of outputting further comprises a step of selecting said utterance from one or more tables of utterances in a manner responsive to said monitoring and to said stored information, and a further step of outputting said utterance as text or speech;

whereby said utterance and said visual display are responsive in a life-like manner.

32. The method according to claim 29 wherein said step of outputting further comprises selecting said visual display from one or more tables of visual displays in a manner responsive to said affect, to said monitoring, and to said stored information.

33. The method according to claim 29 wherein said selected display behavior comprises one or more persona.

34. An agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of one or more students, said system comprising:

(a) one or more computers having interactive input/output devices and interconnected by a network;

(b) one or more materials executable on said one or more computers, each said material for presenting interactive instruction to said one or more students and for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction; and

(c) one or more agents executable on said one or more computers, each said agent associated with exactly one of said students and each said student associated with exactly one of said agents, each said agent comprising

(i) action processing for controlling said one or more materials to instruct said associated student, said controlling being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated student, and

(ii) behavior processing for outputting information to guide said associated student, said outputting being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated student;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor to each of said students and said interactive instruction of each of said students is individualized to each student.

35. The system according to claim 34 further comprising executive software for interfacing said one or more materials and said one or more agents to said one or more computers and to said network.

36. The system according to claim 34 wherein said network is configured to permit any one of said students to access any one of said one or more materials from any one of said computers.

37. The system according to claim 34 wherein said network is configured to permit one or more of said computers to be located in one or more locations.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein one or more of said locations are residences of one or more of said students.

39. The system according to claim 37 wherein one or more of said materials presents homework to one or more of said students.

40. The system according to claim 34 wherein said network is further configured to be a packet switched network.

41. The system according to claim 34 wherein said agent action processing is further responsive to a request for guidance from said associated student, and wherein said agent behavior processing is further responsive to said request for guidance.

42. The system according to claim 41 wherein said agent behavior processing further comprises (i) utterance generation processing for selecting an utterance and an affect responsive to said monitoring information or to said request for guidance, and (ii) visual display generation for selecting a visual display responsive to said utterance and said affect.

43. The system according to claim 42 wherein said agent behavior processing selects said utterance and said visual display to represent a persona, said selection being from a table of available personas and according to the preferences of said associated student.

44. The system according to claim 34 wherein said materials further comprise instructional materials executable on said computers for interactive instruction of said students, and tools executable on said computers for assistance of said students in said interactive instruction.

45. The system according to claim 44 wherein said instructional materials further comprise instructional materials appropriate to primary or secondary education.

46. The system according to claim 44 wherein said tools further comprise one or more tools selected from the group comprising a calculator, a dictionary, a thesaurus, an atlas, an encyclopedia, and a network search tool.

47. The system according to claim 44 wherein said tools further comprise a starfish tool for displaying and selecting relationships.

48. The system according to claim 34 further comprising one or more schedule/calendar tools executable on said computers, each said schedule/calendar tool associated with exactly one of said plurality of students and each said student associated with exactly one of said schedule/calendar tools, each said schedule/calendar tools for outputting to said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student, and for providing to said agent of said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student.

49. The system according to claim 48 further comprising data areas for each of said students characterizing scheduled activities according to deadline date and priority, and wherein said schedule/calendar tool further limits said associated student to interactive instruction according to said data areas characterizing said scheduled activities.

50. The system according to claim 34 further comprising one or more communication tools executable on said computers for providing forms of interactive group instruction to a group of said students, and for generating monitoring information that monitors said group instruction of each student in said group.

51. The system according to claim 50 where said forms of group instruction are selected from the group consisting of exchange of messages, group work on a shared material, and group participation in educational contests.

52. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more of said materials further comprises materials engine software and materials data, and wherein said materials engine process said materials data to present said interactive instruction.

53. The system according to claim 52 wherein each of said materials data further comprises:

(a) a plurality of display objects for presentation;

(b) sequencing logic for controlling the order of said presentation of said plurality of display objects; and

(c) notations for causing generation of said monitoring information.

54. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more of said materials comprises a program having data and instructions.

55. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more of said materials comprises a program having data and instructions.

56. The system according to claim 55 wherein said data in said pedagogic information data areas does not depend on the subject matter of said one or more materials.

57. The system according to claim 55 wherein said agent action processing updates said pedagogic information data areas associated with said agent'"'"'s associated student, said updating being responsive to said monitoring information, whereby said associated agent adapts to said student.

58. The system according to claim 55 further comprising progress and performance data areas for each student, said progress and performance data areas comprising data describing progress and performance of each said student in said interactive instruction, and wherein said agent action processing and said agent behavior processing are further responsive to said progress and performance information data areas.

59. The system according to claim 58 wherein said agent action processing updates said progress and performance data areas associated with said associated student of said agent, said updating responsive to said monitoring information;

whereby said associated agent adapts to said student.

60. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more of said materials presents said interactive instruction according to an education paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said education paradigm of said materials.

61. The system according to claim 60 further comprising control parameters for each material that have an educational paradigm, wherein each material presents said interactive instruction according to values of said control parameters, and wherein said agent action processing assigns said values of said control parameters;

whereby said agent action processing controls said materials.

62. The system according to claim 59 wherein said educational paradigm is selected from the group consisting of interactive tutorial, fluency exercise, paired association exercise, discrimination formation exercise, and simulation exercise.

63. The system according to claim 59 wherein said educational paradigm is standardized according to an instructional context and an instructional format.

64. The system according to claim 62 wherein said instructional context is selected from the group consisting of prerequisite test, prerequisite review, pretest, new material introduction, new material discrimination, new material review, fluency exercise practice, review practice, and unit mastery test.

65. The system according to claim 63 wherein said instructional format is selected from the group consisting of multiple choice, unprompted fill-in-the-blank, fill-in-the-blank selected from a list, paired associates by letter, paired associates by dragging, paired associates by matching, computation, simulation to identify parts of figures or text, and simulation game.

66. The system according to claim 34 wherein said agent action processing generates at least one action responsive to said monitoring information.

67. The system according to claim 66 wherein said agent action processing further comprises software using one or more techniques selected from the group of expert systems, neural networks, Bayesian belief networks, and statistical pattern recognition.

68. The system according to claim 66 further comprising a plurality of tables of rules, and wherein said agent action processing software further comprises software referencing said plurality of tables of rules in order to control said one or more materials and to generate said action(s).

69. The system according to claim 68 wherein said plurality of tables of rules comprises a policy filter table, a decision weight table, and a selection criteria table, and wherein said agent action processing references said policy filter table for determining one or more candidate actions, references said decision weight table for ranking said one or more candidate actions, and references said selection criteria table for selecting said action(s) from said ranked candidate actions.

70. The system according to claim 66 wherein said agent behavior processing is responsive to said action(s) in order to output information responsive to said monitoring information.

71. The system according to claim 70 further comprising a plurality of tables of possible outputs, and wherein said agent behavior processing software references said tables of possible outputs.

72. The system according to claim 71 wherein said one or more tables of possible outputs further comprise an utterance template table and a display behavior table, and wherein said agent behavior processing references said utterance template table for selecting an utterance and an affect according to said action(s), and references said display behavior table for selecting a visual display according to said action(s), said utterance, and said affect.

73. The system according to claim 70 wherein said agent behavior processing outputs information in a plurality of output modalities.

74. The system according to claim 70 wherein said output modalities are one or more output modalities selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, speech, audio, animation, video, and preformatted animated sequences.

75. The system according to claim 34 further comprising one or more student data objects, each of said student data objects associated with exactly one student, and wherein each agent stores information reflecting said monitoring information of said one student associated with said agent in said one student data object associated with said associated student.

76. The system according to claim 75 wherein said student data object associated with one student further comprises:

(a) pedagogic information describing a pedagogic model of said one student; and

(b) progress and performance information for describing the progress and performance of said student in said materials.

77. The system according to claim 76 wherein said agent associated with each student further comprises agent software and said student data object associated with said student, and wherein said agent software references and updates said associated student data object.

78. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more of said computers are configured as server systems, wherein said server systems store said one or more materials and one or more agents, and wherein said one or more computers downloads said materials and said one or more agents from said one or more server systems across said computer network.

79. The system according to claim 78 further comprising databases of pedagogic information and materials progress and performance information for said one or more students, and wherein said databases are stored on said server systems.

80. The system according to claim 79 further comprising reporting software for generating reports from said databases of pedagogic information and materials progress and performance information for said one or more students.

81. The system according to claim 34 further comprising one or more system managers executable on said one or more computers, wherein said interactive input/output devices include a computer display at each of said one or more computers, and wherein said system manager executing on one computer partitions said display of said one computer into one or more display areas.

82. The system according to claim 81 wherein said one or more display areas are selected from the group comprising an agent area for agent interactivity, a materials area for materials interactivity, and a system area in which said system manager displays selection icons for available system tools and facilities.

83. The system according to claim 82 wherein said one or more materials and said one or more agents provide facilities always available to said one or more students and said materials area and said agent area comprise sub-areas whose selection activates one of said always available facilities.

84. The system according to claim 82 wherein said one or more display areas change in size from time to time.

85. The system according to claim 34 wherein one or more teachers directs instruction of one or more of said students, said system further comprising:

(a) one or more teacher materials executable on said one or more computers, each said teacher material for presenting interactive instruction to teachers in the use of said system and in the use of materials directed to said students and for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction; and

(b) one or more teacher agents executable on said one or more computers, each said teacher agent associated with exactly one of said teachers and each said teacher associated with exactly one of said agents, each said agent comprising

(i) action processing for controlling said one or more materials to instruct said associated teacher, said controlling being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated teacher, and

(ii) behavior processing for outputting information to guide said associated teacher, said outputting being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated teacher.

86. An agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of one or more students, said system comprising:

(a) one or more computers having interactive input/output devices and interconnected by a network;

(b) one or more materials executable on said one or more computers, each said material for presenting interactive instruction to said one or more students and for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction; and

(c) one or more agents executable on said one or more computers, each said agent associated with exactly one of said students and each said student associated with exactly one or said agents, each said agent comprising

(i) utterance generation processing for selecting an affect and an utterance to guide said one associated student, said selecting of said affect and said utterance being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said one associated student, and

(ii) visual display generation for selecting a visual display to guide said one associated student, said selecting of said visual display being responsive to said affect, to said utterance, and to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated student, and

(iii) output processing for outputting to said associated student said selected utterance and said selected visual display;

whereby said selected visual display and said selected utterance are responsive to said affect and to said interactive instruction in a life-like manner.

87. The system according to claim 86 wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information describing the pedagogic characteristics of said associated student, and wherein utterance generation processing selects an affect further responsive to said pedagogic information;

whereby said selected visual display and said selected utterance are further responsive in a manner individualized to a cognitive style of said associated student.

88. The system according to claim 86 wherein said utterance generation processing selects said affect and said utterance from one or more tables of utterances.

89. The system according to claim 86 wherein said visual display processing selects said visual display from one or more tables of visual displays.

90. The system according to claim 86 wherein said selected visual display comprises one or more persona.

91. The system according to claim 86 further comprising action processing for generating at least one action and for controlling said one or more materials to instruct said associated student, said generating and said controlling being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated student, and wherein said utterance generation processing and said visual display selection processing are further responsive to said action(s).

92. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for instruction of a plurality of students, said method comprising:

(a) executing one or more materials on a computer for presenting interactive instruction to one student of said plurality of students, said computer being one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network, each computer of said plurality having interactive input/output devices;

(b) generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction presented to said student; and

(c) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said outputting information responsive to said monitoring information of said interaction instruction of said student;

(d) controlling said one or more materials to instruct said student, said controlling being responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of said student;

(e) selecting an utterance and an affect from one or more utterance tables in a manner responsive to said controlling step; and

(f) selecting a visual display from one or more tables of display behaviors in a manner responsive to said utterance, said affect, and said controlling step;

whereby said interactive instruction is individualized to each student of said plurality of students and said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

93. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for instruction of a plurality of students, said method comprising:

(a) executing one or more materials on a computer for presenting interactive instruction to one student of said plurality of students, said computer being one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network, each computer of said plurality having interactive input/output devices;

(b) generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction presented to said student; and

(c) controlling said one or more materials to instruct said student, said controlling being responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of said student and in accordance with one or more tables of rules;

wherein said one or more tables of rules further comprise a policy filter table, a decision weight table, and a selection criteria table, and wherein said controlling step controls said one or more materials according to one or more determined controlling actions, and wherein said controlling step references said policy filter table for determining one or more candidate controlling actions, references said decision weight table for ranking said one or more candidate controlling actions, and references said selection criteria table for selecting one or more controlling actions from said ranked candidate controlling actions;

whereby said interactive instruction is individualized to each student of said plurality of students.

94. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for instruction of a plurality of students, said method comprising:

(a) a step for executing one or more materials on a computer for presenting interactive instruction to each student, said computer being one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network, each computer of said plurality having interactive input/output devices;

(b) a step for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction presented to each student of said plurality of students;

(c) a step for controlling said one or more materials to instruct each student, said controlling being responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of each student; and

(d) a step of outputting information to each student in order to guide each student in said interactive instruction, said outputting step responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of each student and responsive to said controlling step;

whereby said interactive instruction is individualized to each student of said plurality of students and acts as a virtual tutor individualized to each student.

95. The method according to claim 94 further comprising after said loading step a further step of maintaining a model of said one student, said maintaining responsive to said monitoring information of said student, and wherein the step for outputting and the step of controlling are further responsive to said model of said student, whereby said outputting step and said controlling step adapt to said student thereby individualizing said interactive instruction of said student.

96. The method according to claim 94 wherein said step for controlling further comprises controlling according to one or more methods selected from the group consisting of expert systems, neural networks, Bayesian belief networks, and statistical pattern recognition.

97. The method according to claim 94 wherein the step for executing further comprises executing one or more of said one or more materials according to an educational paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said educational paradigm adopted by said one or more materials.

98. The method according to claim 94 wherein said educational paradigm is standardized according to an instructional context and an instructional format.

99. The method according to claim 94 further comprising after said generating step a further step of updating one student model of a plurality of student models, each student of said plurality of students being associated with exactly one student model, said updating being responsive to the information monitoring the interactive instruction of said student, and wherein the step for controlling said one or more materials to instruct each student is further responsive to said student model of said student;

whereby said one or more materials are individualized to said student.

100. The method according to claim 99 wherein said step of updating further comprises updating pedagogic information in said student model, said pedagogic information describes pedagogic characteristics of said student of said plurality of students in a manner independent of the subject matters of said one or more materials.

101. The method according to claim 99 wherein said step of updating further comprises updating progress and performance information in said student model, wherein said progress and performance information describes the progress and performance of said student in said interactive instruction presented by each of said one or more materials.

102. The method according to claim 94 further comprising prior to said controlling step (i) a step of executing one scheduler/calendar tool of a plurality of scheduler/calendar tools, each student of said plurality of students being associated with exactly one scheduler/calendar tool, said one scheduler/calendar tool providing said student with information relating to scheduled activities of said student, and (ii) a step of generating monitoring information that monitors said scheduled activities of said student.

103. The method according to claim 102 wherein the step of executing executes one or more materials that relate to said scheduled activities of said student.

104. An agent based instruction system for instruction of a plurality of students, said system comprising:

(a) means for presenting interactive instruction to each student by one or more materials;

(b) means for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction presented to each student;

(c) means for controlling said one or more materials to instruct each student, said controlling being responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of each student; and

(d) means for outputting information to each student in order to guide each student in said interactive instruction, said means for outputting being responsive to said information monitoring the interactive instruction of each student and responsive to said means for controlling;

whereby said interactive instruction is individualized to each student and said acts as a virtual tutor individualized to each student.

105. The system according to claim 104 further comprising one or more schedule/calendar tools executable on said computers, each said schedule/calendar tool associated with exactly one of said plurality of students and each said student associated with exactly one of said tools, each said schedule/calendar tool for outputting to said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student.

106. The system according to claim 105 further comprising data areas for each of said students characterizing scheduled activities according to deadline date and priority, and wherein said schedule/calendar tool further limits said associated student to interactive instruction according to said data areas characterizing said scheduled activities.

107. The system according to claim 104 further comprising pedagogic information data areas for each student, said pedagogic information data areas comprising data for a pedagogic model of said student.

108. The system according to claim 104 further comprising progress and performance data areas for each student, said progress and performance data areas comprising data describing progress and performance of each said student in said interactive instruction.

109. The system according to claim 104 wherein one or more of said materials presents said interactive instruction according to an education paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said education paradigm of said materials.

110. The system according to claim 109 further comprising control parameters for each material that have an educational paradigm, wherein each material presents said interactive instruction according to values of said control parameters.

111. The system according to claim 104 further comprising a plurality of tables of rules which are referenced in order to control said one or more materials.

112. The method according to claim 104 wherein said means for controlling controls said one or more materials according to one or more methods selected from the group consisting of expert systems, neural networks, Bayesian belief networks and statistical pattern recognition.

113. The system according to claim 104 further comprising one or more student data objects, each of said student data objects associated with exactly one student, each student data object storing monitoring information of said one student associated with said object.

114. The system according to claim 113 wherein said student data object associated with one student further comprises:

(a) pedagogic information describing a pedagogic model of said one student; and

(b) progress and performance information for describing the progress and performance of said student in said materials.

115. An agent based instruction system for instruction of a student, said system comprising:

(a) one or more materials executable on a computer for presenting interactive instruction to said student, said computer having interactive input/output devices; and

(b) an agent executable on said computer, said agent (i) receiving monitoring information from each of said one or more materials that monitors said interactive instruction of said student, (ii) controlling said one or more materials to instruct said student, said controlling being responsive to said monitoring information, and (iii) outputting information to guide said student, said outputting being responsive to said monitoring information.

116. The system according to claim 115 further comprising one or more schedule/calendar tools executable on said computers, each said schedule/calendar tool associated with exactly one of said plurality of students and each said student associated with exactly one of said schedule/calendar tools, each said schedule/calendar tool for outputting to said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student, and for providing to said agent information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student.

117. The system according to claim 116 further comprising data areas for each of said students characterizing scheduled activities according to deadline date and priority, and wherein said schedule/calendar tool further limits said associated student to interactive instruction according to said data areas characterizing said scheduled activities.

118. The system according to claim 115 further comprising pedagogic information data areas for each student, said pedagogic information data areas comprising data for a pedagogic model of said student, and wherein said agent is further responsive to said pedagogic information data areas.

119. The system according to claim 115 further comprising progress and performance data areas for each student, said progress and performance data areas comprising data describing progress and performance of each said student in said interactive instruction, and wherein said agent is further responsive to said progress and performance information data areas.

120. The system according to claim 119 wherein said agent updates said progress and performance data areas associated with said associated student of said agent, said updating responsive to said monitoring information;

whereby said associated agent adapts to said student.

121. The system according to claim 115 wherein one or more of said materials presents said interactive instruction according to an education paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said education paradigm of said materials.

122. The system according to claim 121 further comprising control parameters for each material that have an educational paradigm, wherein each material presents said interactive instruction according to values of said control parameters, and wherein said agent assigns said values of said control parameters;

whereby said agent controls said materials.

123. The system according to claim 115 further comprising a plurality of tables of rules, and wherein said agent further comprises software referencing said plurality of tables of rules in order to control said one or more materials and to generate one or more actions by said agent.

124. The system according to claim 123 wherein said plurality of tables of rules comprises a policy filter table, a decision weight table, and a selection criteria table, and wherein said agent references said policy filter table for determining one or more candidate actions, references said decision weight table for ranking said one or more candidate actions, and references said selection criteria table for selecting said action(s) from said ranked candidate actions.

125. The system according to claim 123 further comprising an utterance template table and a display behavior table, and wherein said agent references said utterance template table for selecting an utterance and an affect according to said action(s), and references said display behavior table for selecting a visual display according to said action(s), said utterance, and said affect.

126. The system according to claim 115 further comprising one or more student data objects, each of said student data objects associated with exactly one student, and wherein each agent stores information reflecting said monitoring information of said one student associated with said agent in said one student data object associated with said associated student.

127. The system according to claim 126 wherein said student data object associated with one student further comprises:

(a) pedagogic information describing a pedagogic model of said one student; and

(b) progress and performance information for describing the progress and performance of said student in said materials.

128. The system according to claim 126 wherein said agent associated with each student further comprises agent software and said student data object associated with said student, and wherein said agent software references and updates said associated student data object.

129. The system according to claim 115 wherein one or more teachers directs instruction of one or more of said students, said system further comprising:

(a) one or more teacher materials executable on a computer, each said teacher material for presenting interactive instruction to teachers in the use of said system and in the use of materials directed to said students and for generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction; and

(b) one or more teacher agents executable on a computer, each said teacher agent associated with exactly one of said teachers and each said teacher associated with exactly one of said agents, each said agent comprising

(i) action processing for controlling said one or more materials to instruct said associated teacher, said controlling being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated teacher, and

(ii) behavior processing for outputting information to guide said associated teacher, said outputting being responsive to said monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said associated teacher.

130. The system according to claim 115 wherein said one or more materials are controlled according to one or more methods selected from the group consisting of expert systems, neural networks, Bayesian belief networks and statistical pattern recognition.

131. A system for agent-based, interactive instruction of one or more students over a plurality of instructional sessions, said system comprising:

(a) means for presenting interactive instruction to one of said students by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) means for monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) means for storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) means for outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

132. The system according to claim 131 further comprising one or more schedule/calendar tools executable on said computers, each said schedule/calendar tool associated with exactly one of said plurality of students and each said student associated with exactly one of said schedule/calendar tools, each said schedule/calendar tool for outputting to said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student.

133. The system according to claim 132 further comprising data areas for each of said students characterizing scheduled activities according to deadline date and priority, and wherein said schedule/calendar tool further limits said associated student to interactive instruction according to said data areas characterizing said scheduled activities.

134. The system according to claim 131 further comprising pedagogic information data areas for each student, said pedagogic information data areas comprising data for a pedagogic model of said student.

135. The system according to claim 131 further comprising progress and performance data areas for each student, said progress and performance data areas comprising data describing progress and performance of each said student in said interactive instruction.

136. The system according to claim 131 wherein one or more of said materials presents said interactive instruction according to an education paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said education paradigm of said materials.

137. The system according to claim 136 further comprising control parameters for each material that have an educational paradigm, wherein each material presents said interactive instruction according to values of said control parameters.

138. The system according to claim 131 further comprising a plurality of tables of rules which are referenced in order to control said one or more materials.

139. The system according to claim 131 further comprising one or more student data objects, each of said student data objects associated with exactly one student, each student data object storing monitoring information of said one student associated with said object.

140. The system according to claim 139 wherein said student data object associated with one student further comprises:

(a) pedagogic information describing a pedagogic model of said one student; and

(b) progress and performance information for describing the progress and performance of said student in said materials.

141. A system for agent-based, interactive instruction of one or more students over a plurality of instructional sessions, said system comprising:

(a) means for presenting interactive instruction to one of said students by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) means for monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) means for storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions;

(d) means for determining an affect responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions; and

(e) means for outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said affect, to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session, and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions, said output information comprising a visual display;

whereby said visual display is responsive to said affect and to said interactive instruction in a life-like manner.

142. The system according to claim 141 further comprising one or more schedule/calendar tools executable on said computers, each said schedule/calendar tool associated with exactly one of said plurality of students and each said student associated with exactly one of said schedule/calendar tools, each said schedule/calendar tool for outputting to said associated student information relating to scheduled activities of said associated student.

143. The system according to claim 142 further comprising data areas for each of said students characterizing scheduled activities according to deadline date and priority, and wherein said schedule/calendar tool further limits said associated student to interactive instruction according to said data areas characterizing said scheduled activities.

144. The system according to claim 141 further comprising pedagogic information data areas for each student, said pedagogic information data areas comprising data for a pedagogic model of said student.

145. The system according to claim 141 further comprising progress and performance data areas for each student, said progress and performance data areas comprising data describing progress and performance of each said student in said interactive instruction.

146. The system according to claim 141 wherein one or more of said materials presents said interactive instruction according to an education paradigm, and wherein said monitoring information further comprises pedagogic information classified according to said education paradigm of said materials.

147. The system according to claim 146 further comprising control parameters for each material that have an educational paradigm, wherein each material presents said interactive instruction according to values of said control parameters.

148. The system according to claim 141 further comprising a plurality of tables of rules which are referenced in order to control said one or more materials.

149. The system according to claim 141 further comprising one or more student data objects, each of said student data objects associated with exactly one student, each student data object storing monitoring information of said one student associated with said object.

150. The system according to claim 149 wherein said student data object associated with one student further comprises:

(a) pedagogic information describing a pedagogic model of said one student; and

(b) progress and performance information for describing the progress and performance of said student in said materials.

151. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing a method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of a student over a plurality of instructional sessions, said method comprising:

(a) presenting interactive instruction to said student by executing one or more materials on a computer accessed by said student for a current instructional session;

(b) monitoring said interactive instruction of said student during said current instructional session;

(c) storing information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session for use during subsequent instructional sessions; and

(d) outputting information on said computer to guide said student in said interactive instruction, said output information responsive to said monitoring of said student during said current instructional session and to said stored information responsive to said monitoring of said student during previous instructional sessions;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said student, said virtual tutor guiding said interactive instruction of said student.